volunteer programme person specification & role … · 2018-04-10 · person specification...
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VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
PERSON SPECIFICATION & ROLE DESCRIPTIONS
Norfolk & Norwich Festival has a reputation for innovative, creative and inspirational
programming, and we couldn’t deliver it without our volunteers fulfilling a whole variety of
roles across the Festival period. This document should help to make clear just what those roles
are, and help you to decide which you would be suited to performing. Once you’ve familiarised
yourself with what’s on offer, you can share your preferences with us in the ‘Volunteer Roles’
section of the application form – we will try our best to accommodate your preferences where
we can.
In general, all volunteering roles will encompass being an advocate for the Festival. Whilst the
different roles outlined within this pack each have their own specific needs and specifications,
we ask that all Norfolk & Norwich Festival volunteers possess the following skills and
attributes:
A positive and enthusiastic attitude
Good verbal communication skills, with an approachable and friendly nature
The ability to work as part of a team as well as using your own initiative
To be comfortable with the unpredictable and respond well to the unexpected
A good knowledge of Norwich
Willingness to learn
Excellent knowledge of the Festival programme (assisted by Norfolk & Norwich Festival
briefings)
Commitment to and flexibility with shifts
A willingness to support Norfolk & Norwich Festival’s commitment to Equal
Opportunities and its Viversity Action Plan
A passion for the arts
To be responsible, reliable and punctual
In return, our aim is to provide the best possible experience for each of our volunteers, with the
following terms:
Although we will do our best, we cannot guarantee you will always get the role(s) you
would prefer; all volunteers will be required to undertake an element of Event
Stewarding.
You will be based at various venues and key information points throughout Norwich
during the Festival, and at other venues in the county where the Festival is presenting
events.
You will be required to volunteer on a rota basis in the run up to and during the Festival
(11-27 May), according to your availability.
Please read on to find out more about the various volunteering opportunities available at
Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2018...
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ROLE DESCRIPTIONS CONTENTS
If the above roles have any specific requirements in order to be performed in full, they will be
listed beneath the role responsibilities. For all roles described, we will take into account both
suitability and availability when allocating volunteers. Volunteers will be asked to give a more
detailed indication of availability once they have been accepted onto the volunteer programme
on 29 March 2018.
Whichever roles you wish to apply for, do remember that working with people can be
unpredictable and you may end up doing something that you didn’t quite expect, but enjoy all
the same.
If you have any queries or questions regarding volunteer role descriptions, please contact Clare
Lovell, Head of Operations, on the contact details provided on the final page of this document.
Page Role
3 Event Steward
4 Lead Volunteer / Assistant to Event Manager
5 Festival Driver / Festival Runner Assistant
6 Finance Assistant/ Communications Team and Box Office Support
7 Spiegel Host
8 Development Team
9 - 10 Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios
10 - 11 Participation & Engagement Support
11 - 12 Office Assistant / Runner
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Event Steward
92% of 2017 volunteers surveyed said that there
was an element of Event Stewarding to their role;
all volunteers will be required to undertake Event
Stewarding as part of their shift rota this year too.
As an Event Steward, you will:
Be a point of contact and representative of
the Festival – you will be part of the Front of
House operation
Welcome and provide information to audiences, watching over the event, generally
assisting with the smooth running of events and performances
Interact proactively with the public/audiences as required, e.g. helping them find their
seats
Give out freesheets/sell merchandise at certain events as required
Exit flyer at the end of performances (distributing postcards/flyers around
venues and to audience members)
Put out/pack away chairs if required
Assist bar staff with the collection of empty glasses if necessary
Work with the Crew and Production teams in managing crowds at outdoor events
Act as a Car Park/Coach Steward for relevant events
Ensure the safety of the crowd/audience, e.g. in the event of an emergency evacuation
Work outdoors in all weathers if stewarding at an outdoor performance
Complete light lifting and manual tasks if you are willing and able to do so
The audience’s experience of an event begins as soon as they arrive at a venue – so you are
there to make sure this experience is as perfect as it can be!
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Lead Volunteer
The Lead Volunteer role is open only to returning
Norfolk & Norwich Festival volunteers because
familiarity with the Festival is essential for the
smooth running of the role. As a Lead Volunteer,
your responsibilities will include:
Assisting the Volunteer Coordinators with
training and induction of volunteers in the
run up to the Festival and at pre-
performance briefings
Providing support and mentoring for the volunteer group
Making sure that the volunteers at your event get snacks and refreshments and helping
in the Norfolk & Norwich Festival offices to coordinate distribution
Assisting the Event Manager in organising the volunteers on shift by helping with event
briefings, keeping records of volunteer attendance & duties and overseeing volunteer
performance.
Special Requirements:
Due to the nature of this role, applicants will be required to have volunteered
previously for at least one Norfolk & Norwich Festival.
Assistant to Event Manager
There are limited opportunities available to be an
Assistant to Event Manager. This role would be best
suited to someone with prior experience of events
and/or volunteering.
The responsibilities of this role will include:
Assisting the Event Manager in working on
venue based performances during the
Festival
Ensuring the smooth running of events that range from classical music through to
contemporary dance
Assisting the Event Manager in the delivery of briefings to other volunteers
Acting as an intermediary between other event volunteers and the Event Manager
Liaising with artists, hospitality & venue staff
Special Requirements:
In this role, you must be available for a full day (morning through to evening), covering
get-in, rehearsal, performance and get-out.
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Festival Driver
Our Festival Drivers may travel locally and further
afield. In this role, you will:
Drive all Festival vehicles (cars, vans, etc) to
collect & drop off artists and/or equipment
Be paired with another volunteer for any
longer journeys
Keep in close communication with Festival
staff and report any problems or obstacles
you may have, as well as receive any updates in circumstances or destination
Be able to navigate unfamiliar journeys or routes following instructions and/or using a
sat nav
Any petrol costs or small expenses will be reimbursed.
Special Requirements:
You must have held a full, clean UK driving licence for at least five years. There may
also be a minimum age requirement for driving certain vehicles
With the potential requirement for lifting heavy equipment, you will need to be fit and
able to carry out manual handling tasks
Some experience of professional driving is preferred within this role
It is essential that you are both reliable and have effective time-keeping to complete this
role
Festival Runner Assistant
This role will give volunteers a real insight into the
kind of work that happens in the background to keep
the Festival running smoothly. Assisting the Festival
Runner in their daily duties, you will:
Perform tasks as necessary, such as collecting
and supplying catering to venues, running
errands, answering phone calls and loading or
unloading equipment
Navigate, and maintain contact with Festival/venues staff when required
Special Requirements:
This role may include some manual handling and heavy lifting; you will need to be fit
and able to carry out these tasks.
The Festival Runner role will start at 8am and be finished by mid afternoon
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Finance Assistant
A Finance Assistant will be needed on each
morning during the Festival in the Festival office.
You will:
Assist the Finance Manager with cash
reconciliations each morning
Assist with administrative tasks in the
Finance department as they arise
Special Requirements:
Must have good availability during office hours, with 10am starts (though not
necessarily every day) for a maximum of two hours per day
Communications Team and Box Office Support
The Festival Communications team will need help both in the lead up to and during the
Festival. You may be needed to help in a number of ways, for example:
Approaching audience members at free events to gather information about the success
of the Festival and how it can be improved upon in the future
Distributing publicity information across the city
Taking signage / banners and other publicity materials to Festival venues
Helping with bulk mail outs from the office
Making up packs with tickets and stationery for Doors Box Office staff
Providing support to Doors Box Office staff just before events
Helping to contact audience members in the event that a performance is changed,
postponed or cancelled
Special Requirements:
An interest in, or experience of, communications would be brilliant, but is not
necessary
For collecting surveys or handing out publicity material it is important that you are
confident about approaching the general public to promote and/or canvas opinion
about the Festival
For office-based tasks and box office support attention to detail is an important skill
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Spiegel Host
(Wednesday 16 May – Sunday 27 May)
The Adnams Spiegeltent is a superb Art Nouveau
style traditional travelling dancehall. Programmed
with an eclectic selection of circus, music, dance,
theatre and cabaret/variety acts by night,
alongside a daytime programme too, the
Spiegeltent is a hugely popular festival venue and
so even has its own hosts.
These positions will be cast, as the roles are integral to the look and feel of the venue. As a host
of the Adnams Spiegeltent, you will:
Be a point of contact and representative of the Festival – you will be part of the Front of
House operation
Welcome and provide information to audiences, watching over the event, generally
assisting with the smooth running of events and performances in the Adnams
Spiegeltent
Proactively interact with audiences, e.g. helping them find their seats
Put out/pack away chairs if required
Assist bar staff with the collection of empty glasses
Ensure the safety of the crowd/audience, e.g. in the event of an emergency evacuation
Special Requirements:
The role requires you to be in costume, some of which you may need to provide
yourself
You will need to be confident and charming when dealing with the public
You must be happy working some late nights as part of your shift (the Adnams
Spiegeltent closes at 2am on Friday & Saturday, 1am on Monday – Thursday, and 12
midnight on Sunday)
This role may include some manual handling / light lifting; you will need to be fit and
able to carry out these tasks
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Development Team Roles
Individual and corporate support is essential in helping us to realise our ambitions for our
Festival and community. Each year, in the lead up to the festival, the Development team hosts
a range of events specifically for the supporters of the festival. These events are hugely
important in enabling us to continue our educational and community work, bringing positive
change and inspiration to the lives of local children and young people and produce a Festival
that inspires and excites every year.
The Development team’s events are often formal in nature, and require a lot of preparation in
the lead up to them. There are limited opportunities for volunteers to play a role in some of
these larger events which precede the opening of the festival. These roles may involve
assisting in either the preparation for an event, or helping at the event itself.
Opening Reception (Friday 11 May 2018 EVENING time TBC
c.4pm – 10pm)
The Opening Reception is the formal start of the Festival. This is
an invitation only event for supporters and stakeholders and
includes a drinks reception, canapés and a selection of speakers.
Development Team Opening Reception Assistant
As Opening Reception Assistant, you will:
Assist the Festival’s Development team with the set up and take down (i.e. pop up
banners, brochures)
Be a first point of contact for guests arriving
Check names of attendees against guest lists and generally make guests feel welcome
Take people’s coats and operate the cloakroom facility
Special Requirements:
Must be available late afternoon/early evening on Friday 11 May at City Hall, Norwich
Dress Code: SMART (e.g. black trousers & top, dress – no T-shirts, jeans or trainers and
nothing too colourful)
Other Development Events
We host approximately 17-20 events during the Festival period including corporate hospitality,
individual giving prospect/reward events and stakeholder events.
Development Event Assistants
(Thursday 10 May – Sunday 27 May – Various Weekend/Evening Shifts)
As Development Event Assistant, you will:
Assist the Festival’s Development team with the set up and take down (i.e. pop up
banners, brochures)
Be a first point of contact for guests arriving
Check names of attendees against guest lists and generally make guests feel welcome
Take people’s coats and operate the cloakroom facility
The dress code for Development Event volunteers is smart
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Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios
Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios (NNOS) is produced by Norfolk &
Norwich Festival in partnership with Norfolk artists. NNOS 2018 will run
directly after Norfolk & Norwich Festival from Saturday 26 May – Sunday
10 June. Visit the NNOS website to find out more about the scheme:
nnopenstudios.org.uk.
Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios Central Taster Exhibition
(Monday 30 April – Thursday 3 May /
Opening hours: 9.30 am – 6.30 pm daily)
(Installation Sunday 29 April)
The NNOS Central Taster Exhibition is held in the
Forum in Norwich. Artwork from many of the artists and
artist groups participating in Norfolk & Norwich Open
Studios is exhibited, giving members of the public the
chance to sample a variety of artwork being created in
Norfolk, and give a taste of what the Open Studios
scheme will offer from 26 May – 10 June.
Volunteers will be needed throughout the exhibition in a
number of roles as follows:
Taster Exhibitions Hanging Assistant
Assist with the signing-in and the hanging/installation of artworks in the Forum’s
Atrium
Take down artworks, oversee returns to artists and help close the exhibition
Special Requirements:
This role may include some manual handling/light lifting; you will need to be fit and
able to carry out these tasks
Good people skills essential
Must be available Sunday 29 April, 8am – 2pm or 2pm – 5.30pm and/or Thursday 3 May
3.30 – 6 pm
Private View Evening Assistant (Monday 30 April):
Support the Central Taster Exhibition’s Private View in the evening, welcoming and
signing in guests, serving drinks and assisting Festival staff with artwork sales
Special Requirements:
Must be available Monday 30 April, 5.30pm – 9pm
Invigilator (Monday 30 April – Thursday 3 May):
Be a point of contact for the public and representative of Norfolk & Norwich Open
Studios - provide information to visitors and watch over the exhibition, ensuring safety
of visitors and security of artworks
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General assistance with the smooth running of the exhibition, reporting back to the
relevant Norfolk & Norwich Festival team member if there are any problems
Encourage people to attend the event and to spread the word to others
Record the number of attendees and encourage visitor feedback
Operate PDQ machines for the sale of artworks
Assistant to the Participation & Engagement Team
There will be several opportunities to assist with Participation & Engagement Projects at the
Festival and in schools. This role is suited to someone with experience (or wanting to gain
experience) in working with young people and the arts.
Take Part: Schools Support Volunteer
(31 March – 27 May)
Each year the Participation & Engagement team takes inspiration
from the Festival’s artistic programme to create a bespoke line-up of
opportunities for children and young people to engage with. These
specially tailored opportunities include performances, workshops,
master classes and Q&A sessions with artists as well as specially
designed teachers’ packs. As a volunteer, your role will involve:
Assisting workshop leaders and artists in schools
Assisting children and young people filling out their Arts
Award Discover leaflets (see below for more detail)
Possibly driving workshop leaders, artists and Participation &
Engagement team members to schools located across
Norfolk
Special Requirements:
Please see the special requirements for Festival Drivers on page 5 if applicable
Meet Me at the Spiegeltent Support Volunteer
(Tuesday 22 – Thursday 24 May)
For the last 4 years the Participation & Engagement
team have been opening up the Festival’s magnificent
Spiegeltent for free to community groups and
organisations across Norfolk, curating an exciting and
inclusive programme of fun, interactive, daytime
activities that appeal to a wide range of the community.
Regular events include Bounce & Rhyme time for 0-5
year olds and their families, and The Afternoon Social
with AgeUK. Your role could involve:
Assisting and getting involved with intergenerational activities including arts and crafts
and music
Welcoming visitors and proactively engaging with audience as required
Assisting with setting up and closing down the events
Collecting audience feedback
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Special Requirements:
Previous experience of working with children and young people and/or older people is
desirable
Please note that it is not necessary for you to have a Disclosure and Barring Service
(DBS - formerly ‘CRB’) check, however if you have had one in the past 12 months and
have signed up to the DBS update service, please indicate this on your application form
Good people skill is essential
Arts Award Discover Support Volunteer
(Saturday 19 - Sunday 20 May)
The Garden Party at Chapelfield Gardens presents
many free outdoor events for the public to enjoy.
During the Garden Party, the Participation &
Engagement team offers the opportunity for
people aged 0 -25 years old to earn their Arts
Award Discover: an opportunity for young people
to engage with the arts around them by learning
about Garden Party artists. As a volunteer, your
role will involve:
Approaching Garden Party attendees to encourage them to take part in Arts Award
Encouraging Arts Award participants
Assisting the Participation & Engagement team in delivery
Special Requirements:
Previous experience of working with children and young people is desirable
Understanding of the Arts Award scheme is desirable
Please note that it is not necessary for you to have a Disclosure and Barring Service
(DBS - formerly ‘CRB’) check, however if you have had one in the past 12 months and
have signed up to the DBS update service, please indicate this on your application form
Office Assistant / Runner
Throughout the Festival and at other times during the course
of the year, we look for volunteers to provide support within
the Festival office, assisting with such things as:
General office and administration tasks, e.g. data
entry, spreadsheet/database work, assisting with mail
outs, etc.
Odd jobs e.g. archiving, preparing materials,
assembling event items, basic DIY, etc.
As well as the above, during the Festival we look for an Office
Runner to:
Run errands around the city as required
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Distribute materials to various locations within the city
Special Requirements:
For runner’s duties, a bicycle is hugely beneficial for quick and easy access around
Norwich
For computer based tasks, a general level of IT proficiency and confidence will be
required (Norfolk & Norwich Festival uses Microsoft Office 2007/2010 on Windows 7 /
Windows 8)
Availability both during and outside of the Festival period
These roles will require flexible availability outside of the Festival period. If you express an
interest in this role on your application form, we will send you a follow up email concerning
your availability throughout the year.
Once you have familiarised yourself with the roles and opportunities on offer
please complete the New or Returning Volunteer Application Form and the Equal
Opportunities Recruitment Monitoring Form. Links to these can be found at
http://www.nnfestival.org.uk/takepart/volunteer
The deadline for volunteer applications is Monday 12 March, 9.30 am
If you have any questions regarding role descriptions, please contact the Festival’s
Volunteer Coordinators by emailing: [email protected] or telephone
01603 877750 and ask to speak to the Volunteer Coordinators.